Excavating-machine.



PATENTED OUT. 22. 190'?.

R. DALTON. EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIUA'IIDI PIILID JUIE B. 1001.

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6 SHEETS-SHEET B.

El/@riser lcher@ kLlama l n l l u.

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No. 868,912. PATENTED 00T. 22. 1907. B.. DALTN.

BXGAVATING MAOHINE. nrnxurnol mmm .mls a. 1m.

8 HEBBES-SHEET 8.

No. 868,912. PATENTED 00T. 22. 1907. H.. DALTON.

BXUAVATING MAUHINE. Armonie! nun mma. 1m.

e annu-snm i.

PATENTD 00122. 19o?.

R. DALTON. BXOVATING MACHINE.

nruuuml Hann um: a. 1m,

8 SHEETS-BIKES? 6.

No. 868.912. PATBNTED 00T. 22. 1907. R. DALTON. EXGAVATING MACHINE. urmoulol run :una no1 B SHEETS-SHEET rim is made ol' I-baom cros-aection and the sprocket chain rests iu. the groove between tho lotoml llengua thereof ond engagea suitable teeth b4 thereon, as shown in Fig. lo. Tho `ntid wheel embraces in its construction n central hub 55 and spoken 56 extending therefrom to the rim 53. The hub oi said wheel is mounted on annule 57 that is supported nt its ends in bearing boxes458 mounted upon the rear ends oi the arma 40, ns

vbont shown in Fig. 2.

Flow bearing arms 60, 60, herein shown as six in number; are arranged alternately on opposite sides ol the wheel and are each located in advance oi one ol the scoops, relatively to thel direction of rotation of the wheel.l Said plow bearing arms extend radially heyond the rim and carry at their outer ends cutters or plows 61 shown as made of the saine gencrul form as ore the plows oi my aforesaid prior potent. Said plow bearing arms nre arranged at varying distances from the wheels so that the plon's carried thereby, which are narrov'rer than the ditch bot-torn, may cover the entire bottom of the ditch. All but one or two of the plow bear- Aing arms are fixed stationary. The other plow bearing arms may be pivoter] at their inner endsvto one oi the spokes 56 of the wheel by means of pivot pins 62 (Fig. 16), whereby such pivoted arms muy swing laterally on the ascending side oi the wheel to prevent the plows carried thereby from clashing with the wheel driving chain 52. Braces 63 strengthen the connection oi the plow bearing arms with the wheel. The scoops, as herein shown, are metallic vessels or buckets having bottoni, inner, guter and side walls. The advance edges of the outer walls nre sharpened and nct as cutting edges in advance movement of the scoops. Said scoops operate both to cut their way through the material to be excavated :md also to scoop up material previously loosened by the plows. Eight scoops are herein shown arranged alternately at the sides of said wheel rim vertically beyond the periphery thereof. If the excnva. tion to be dug is `rider than the scoops, the said scoops will stand in overlapped relation to each other circumierentially of the wheel. It the excavation is the same width ns the scoops they will be located circumferentially in alinement with cach other. In order that they may stond in overlapped relation as stated, it will obviously be necessary that some of the scoops he located laterally a distance away from the wheel greater than others o! the scoops. 1n order to obtain these results l may provide adjustable stops for limiting the inward movement of the scoops in the some general manner shown and described in my aforesaid prior patent.

The scoops 51 are carried by the outer ends of the scoop bearing arms, euch o which consists of two members 75, 76 that are spaced a distance apart at their inncr ends and converge toward their outer ends nml are connected at their outer ends by webs or plnt 77. The said members ofthe scoop bearing arms are hinged to certain o the spokes 56 o the wheel, such spokes boing provided with lugs 7S, 78 and the inner ende of the arm members being provided with correspondingly hinge luge 79, 79 (Fig. 3). The members 76 oi said arms are .made longer than the members and are hinged to said spokes near the hub nf the wheel, while thc shorter members 75 are hinged to said spokes between the hub and the rim oi the wheel. inasmuch ns the said arm members are hinged to the spokes ot different radial distances from the center ol the wheel, it; follows that, us the wheel rotate lowurds the brennt o the excavation, the scoops nt the ascending Hide of the wheel have n tendency to swing laterally therefrom when the Hupporting nl'lus thereof rcuch a luu'izonlnl position. ln the continued rotation of the wheel with mid scoops iu their extended positions, seid scoops are caused Lo be inverted with the effect oi dumping or depositing their contents alongside the ditch or excavation. When n spoke to which n given scoop arm is pivoted passes its vertical position, the said scoop swings inwardly towards the rim of the wheel; the operation oi' the scoop arms in this respect being generally the soule as disclosed in my prior patent before referred to. Means are provided lor locking said arms to the outer part or rim of the wheel in such manner ns to prevcnt the lmckward stress on thc arms from exerting undue or excelsive stress on the pivots ol said arms. A practical orm oi locking device or this purpose is shown in Fig. 3 and Figo` 11 to 15, inclusive, and is made as iollows:

The longer member 76 of each arm is provided with :1. loop or bail that extends forwardly therefrom, relatively to the operative direction or rotation of the wheel, and is adapted to be brought laterally against the rim o( the wheel or a stop on mid arm when the arm is in its retracted position. 86 designates o latch that is pivoted at the inner side of the rim and is provided with a hook or datent S7 adapted to engage the loop or bail 85 of the scoop arm when the latter is swung inwardly. As herein shown, said latch is forked at its rear end and the arms o the forks are pivotcd by means of suitable pins B3 to the flanges of the I-bcnni shaped rim. The

latch is so formed that the hook or le-tent fus outside of the rim flange on the side thereof adjacent to its associated scoop arm. The said lut-cli 86 is held normally pressed toward the rim by light springs 89 attached to the rim and to said latch (Figs. 11 und l2). The end of the latch just inside of its hook rests in engagement with the lateral arm 90 o a short lcvcr 91 which is pivoted to the web portion of the Lbcnm rim to swing in a plone transverse to that of the latch. Suid arm D() extends latcrallyovcr the [lange of the rim and is provided with an outwardly tumcd lug 92 that is parallel with seid flange. Said lever 91 is held, by menus oi o spring 93, normally towards the side of the rim adjacent its associated scoop arm with the lng 92 spaced u distance [rom thcy rim (Figs. 1] and 13). 1t will thus be seen that the arm 90 holds the hooked ond of the latch ra` dially inside of the loop or hail ol' thc scoop n-rrn so that when thc scoop arm is retracted inwardly, the loop or bail thereof strikes thc lug 92 and pushes the sume und the latch supporting nrm inwardly until Paid arm is moved out oi the pnth of the swinging latch, whereupon said latch slips oli the arm 90 and is forced luto engagement with the loop or bail B5 in a manner to lor-k thc scoop arm to the rim for the purpose stated. The latch thus arranged serves to hold the scoop m'm lirlnly interlockcd with the outer or peripheral parl ul the wheel while the scoop is being forced in cutting action ngninst the brcnsl. ol' thc exc-ovation.

Means are provided for releasing the locking devices nt points in tho rotation of the nhccl when the scoops have been moved out of cutting contact. with the hre-.1st oi the exc-ovation in order to permit the scoops and their nrms to swing laterallyoutwardly in n manner to duinp thev contents of the scoops. Such release is i effected in the present instance by ineens set in operai I.tion by the lateral swinging movement nl thc scoop arm next in advance thercu, the arrangement being as fol- Vlows: A chain or cable 100 `is nttached at one end to the i vdutch 86 of euch locking devicelFigs. 3, 11 and 12) and is attachedntitsotherend to that one ci the spokes '56 next in advance oi'said seooparm or other stntionary port of the wheel. 101 designates a. shortchnin orvcahle attached at one ond to chain -100 midway of its length and nt its other ond to one of the members of the scoop z V position effects the release of the lock ofthe scoop bem'- i ,ing arm next in rear thereof, and which is just being moved out of its `'cutting or operating position, whereby the said latterscoop and its arm are free to swing laterlly from the ivhcel when it, in turn, reaches n horizontal or substantially horizontal position. After cach scoop is thus swungoutwnrdly and is dumped hyrcason of the inversionof the scoop, said scoop and its arm nre retracted inwardly towards the wheel and are again `lockedV to the Wheel rim by thc locking device described.

As before slated, means are-provided for swinging one of more o the plow bearing arms laterally away .from thev wheel on the ascending side thereof so as to prevent the plow or plows carried thereby from clashing with the wheel driving chain 52. A convenient mechanism for effecting this result is shown in Figs. 3, 1.5 and 16 and is made as follows: 104 designates o. bel] crank Y lever which is pivot-ed to n bracket 105 fixed to the lateral side of the wheel rim. 1.35

4firm of the bcll crank lever engages n pin or stud 108 extending laterally imm the plonbearing arm. The shorter arm of the lever is provided with a lug 109 to which is attached a chain 110 by which the lever is swung on its pivot in a manner to swing the longer arm of the same toward said pin or stud 108 and thereby force the plow bearing arm laterally army from the wheel rim. The said hell crank lever is held in the position shown in Fig. 16 by menus of :i4 spiral spring 111 attached at one end to the short end of s-.iid lever ond at its other end to the plow hearing arm. A stop 112 formed on a dat plete 113, attached to and extending laterally from the plow healing arm. serscs to limit the swing of said lever under the action of the spring lll. The said bell crank lever is swung on its pivot to throw the scoop bearing arm lnterally from the wheel fiume by means operated by the scoop bearing arm second in advance thereof relatively' to the direction oi rotation of the wheel. The construction herein shown for effecting this result is mode as follows: The seid chuin 110, which is attached at one end to said bell crank lever, is attached at its other end to n spoke :36 second in :idvance of said lever.

114 designates a short. chain which is attached nt one end to the chnin 110 midway of its length and nt its other end to the scoop bearineorm second in advance of the plow bearing arm associated with the bell crank the side walls of the ditch excavation.

lever referred to, und located on the side of the wheel opposite to the last mentioned scoop hearing anu. Thus it will be seen that ns ascoop bearing erm, thus ossocinted with :i plow bearing arm, swings lnternlly outward away from the wheel frame, it acts, through the medium oi the clin-ins 114 and 110, to operate the boll crank lever 104 associated with the plow bearing arm and thereby swings the scid plow henringarm laterally from the wheel a distance to clear it from the operating chain 52 as the plow rises on the ascending side of the wheel. The plow bearing arm is thus held outwardly 'until the scoop bearing arm which controls its movemcntisretmcted by gravity inwardly tothe wheel. The short arm of the bell crank lever 104 engages the plate 113 in such manner as to constitute a stop tonormnlly prevent the plow bearing arm swinging away from the Wheel, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

As n further and separate improvement, 1 have provided n plurality of side cuttersor euttingor trimmin As herein shown, two of such side cutters are employed, one located nt one lateral side of the wheel ond the other at the other lateral side thereof. 115, 115 Fig. 3) designate md side cutters which consist of elongated tint blades. They are attached to or extend radially out- Wardly from the long arm .1.15Il of n bell cmnk lever 116, which lever is pivotcd at its angle to the rim 53 of the wheel irame to swing laterally from the plane of the wheel. The ends of the arms oi said bell crank level' are connected by an oblique brace or strut 117. The

' outer ends of said cutters are curved lnteinlly. as shown at. 118. The seid cutters are braced iroin the Wheel rim by oblique braces 119, 119 attached at their outer ends to the cutter blades and pivot-ed at their inner ends to the wheel rim, as shown in Fig. 3. The mechanism for swinging said cutter arm levers on their pivots to swing the side cutters towards and from the plane of the wheel is made as follows: 120 designates nn eccentric fixed to the stationary wheel bearing nxle. Said eccentric is surrounded by an eccentric strip 121 provided with lugs 122. 122 (Figs. 1S and 19). 123, 123 designate reciprocating eccentric Imrs which are attached at their inner ends to seid lugs. mie of which is rigidly attached to its lug and the other of which is pivoled thereto. The outer ends oi seid eccentric lmrs have guiding cngub ment'in loops 1%@ 123* formed on bars 124 suitably fixed in the wheel frame (Figs. 3 and 20;.

125, 125 designate swinging bars, cach o which is hinged :it one end lo an adjacent spoke 56 and is pivoted between its ends at 126 tu the associated eccentric bnr. Each of said swinging han; 125 extends beyond its eccentric har und is loosely connected with the short arm of the adjacent bell crunk lever 116 by n link 127.

The relation of the eccentric 120 with respect to the wheel frame und in the side cutters 115 is such that the side cutters nre swung outwardly into engagement with the eide Walls ui the ditch or excnvntimi nr the bottom nl the curved ln'cnst of the excavation sud during the subsequent upward or forward movement o the sido cutters they are swung gradually outuimlly nud rr :ich their fnrthcst divergence from the wheel nl the time or just citer they leave the ditch or excavation. .ls n result of this arrangement and opt-ration oi the sido cul:- ters. tinj side wnlls ol' the ditch. when iushml, diverge outwardly from the bottom to the top of the ditch. The

i slnnting of the wells of the ditch in this manner is often necessary by reason ot' tho character oi the earth formuand may in the form shown or a modified form be sp- Ail() plied to other types oi wheel ditching machines than that herein shown.

As o. further und seperate improvement, thtx scoops nre connected with the scoop orme in such manner that upon the occasion of unusual stress being thrown there- 0n, as for instance, when-the scoops are brought into contact with an immovable obstruction, ns n stone, lo' cated in the path of the scoops, said scoops will yield 'to avoid any of the parts, upon which stress is thus thrown, becoming broken or strained. Such yielding of the scoops may be effected by hinging the scoops to their arms and interposing a spring connection between lthe scoops and their arms, or interposing a. break bnr.

The latter device isherc shown. As herein shown, the scoops are hinged ot the forward margins of their inner walls to the outer ends of the scoop arms, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, and breaking bars 127" are interposed between the inner sides of said scoops and the scoop bearing arms. As shown, the ends of said brenking -bars enter sockets' 128 and 129 on the scoops and arms,

respectively. Said breaking' bals are made of wood and are looselyset in said sockets provided therefor. ln order to hold the scoops in proper relation to the bars and scoop arms, chains 130 arc provided, cach of which is sttadicd at one ond to the rear side of a scoop and at its other end to the scoop arm near the inner end of the breaking har. A

llleans are provided for limiting the lateral swing of the scoop bearing orms while they are passing through their dumping positions. This may be effected by limiting or slop chains attached in :my suitable manner to the wheel frame and scoop arms. I have, however. provided s special Iorm of limiting device, which is diown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 10, and is made as follows: It comprises n short arm 135 hinged to the inner side of the rim of the wheel at 136 and a short length of chain 137 attached at one end to the end oi said nrrn and at itsother end to theassocintcd scoop bearing arm. Said arm is hinged lo swing laterally towards and from the plane of the wheel und when in its innermost. or rctrncted posi tion. it is disposed radially with rcspt to smid rim and generally parallel with the scoop-nearing arms. Said limiting arm is held in its innermost position by means oi s spring 138 attached at one end to said arm and at its other end to an adjacent spoke 56. As shown, the limiting arm 135 is made of generally V shape to provide two points of pivot but the form of the arm may he varied while producing the same result. In Fig. 10 said limiting device is shown in full lines in its inner or retracted position and in dotted lines in its outer or extended position.

The mechanism for propelling the machine is so constructc-d th at when operating in the excavation the ma chine is advanced intermittently through a step-bystep movement, and is also capable of adjustment to propel the machine forwardly at s, desired speed when ing shalt.

the machine is to be moved from place tn place. The excavating wheel is driven forward continuously during the stop-by-stcp movel mont of the wheel dn ring the excavetingopomtion.

Referring now to the driving mechanism for rotating the scoop bearing wheel, the parts are made as follows: 138 designates n chain or bolt that is trained about o. wheel on the crank-shaft 139 of the engine 34 and about e similar wheel 140 fixed to a horizontal shaft 142 extending transversely across the machine frame (Figs. 2 and 7) and hereinafter termed the moin driv- 'I'he said chain and wheels are of the sprocket type, es are all the belts and wheels of the driving mechanism, but this arrangement may be varied as desired. 143 designates o second wheel mounted on said shaft 142. Seid latter wheel is mounted loosely on said shaft and is locked to the shaft at will by a clutch formed on the adjacent ends of the hubs oi mid wheels Monod 143. In the present inv stance, the wheel 140 slides endwisc of the shaft to bring the clutch members together. A clutch lever 146 is connected with the hub of said wheel 140 remove it towards and from the hub of the wheel 143. 147 designates n driving belt or chain that is trained about said wheel 143 and also about a sprocket wheel 148 fixed to a shaft 149 that is rotatively mounted al: its ends in bearings 150, 150 carried by the vertical beam 43 of the auxiliary frame 42 (Figs. 3, 5 and 7). The laps of said driving chain 147 engage idlels 161, 152, the former of which is rotatively mounted on a. horizontal shaft 153 extending between the traction wheels 27 and constituting the differential gear shaft of the driving mechanism, and the latter of which is mounted in n hanger 154 depending from the rear axle 29 ofthe main frame. Fixed to the shaft 149 isasecond sprocket wheel 155 which is operatively connected by a driving belt or chain 156 with a sprocket wheel 157 that is fixed on a. rotative shaft 158 located above the shaft 149 and rotatively mounted at its ends in bearings 159 carried by the vertical parallel beams 43 of the said auxiliary frame 42. Fixed to said shaft 158 is n. smaller sprocket wheel 160 about which is trained the excavating wheel driving chain 52 before referred to. The excavating Wheel is thus continuously driven from the engine through the connection described so long as the clutch device associated with the wheel 143 is in position to connect said wheel with thc main shaft 142. It will, of course, be understood that said clutch is disconnected nt times when the machine is driven from place to place by its own power.

Referring now to the mechanism for driving the machine forward in a step-by-step manner during the rotation of the excavating wheel, those parts are made ns follows: Fixed to said main driving shaft 142 is a sprocket wheel 165 which is connected by a sprocket chain or belt 166 with :Lwhoel 167 fixed to a short horizontal shaft 168 rotntively mounted in the moin frame in rear of the 11min drfving shaft. 169 designates n. second short rotative sinh. mounted in said main frame and in renr of the shaft 168. The shaft 169 is provided at its outer ond at the side of the machine with n gear pinion 177 that meshes with the principal gear 17S of a differential gear mechanism, designated es :t whole by 179, and mounted on the differential geenl shaft 153. Seid differential gear mechanism may i Vbe made oi any suitable type and is not herein fully l shaft 109 through the medium of the clutch collar 175 illustrated. The two parts` oi said shaft 153 at euch a side of the differential gear mechanism are provided 1 5 to saidawinging pawl carrying ann 1,87.

ut their ends with piniona 180 which mesh with gear wheelsll lined to the traction wheels 27 of the main iralne'and through which driving power is transmitted to said traction wheels. va Non-ro'tatively fixed to the shaft 169^is a ratchet wheel 18.5 (Figs. 1, 2 und 8). The teeth el said ratchet wheel are engaged `by n gravity pawl 186 carried by a vertically swinging arm 187 that isswingingly mounted on the shaft 169. Non-rotatively lxed to thefcompanion shaft 168 is un eccentric disk r1.878 surrounded by an eccentric strap 189. 190

. designates a reciprocating eccentric har or link that is connected at one end to said strapand at its other` end 191 designates a-holdingdcteutthat is'pivoted to nfcrosslfbar 192 of the main trarne and engages fthe teeth of said ratchet 'when in a marmi-rio hold are when from backward' rotation.

The operation of the etep-vby-step advancing mechanisrnfdescribed is as follows: The'rshaft 168 is rotated continuously through its connection with the shaft 142 whereby is imparted to'thc eccentric 18S a like continuous rotation. In each rotation of said eccentric the pawl carrying arm 187 is swung forwardly and backwardly lay-reason of its connection with the eccentric through the link 190, and the pawl 186 carried thereby acts during each advance movement to rotate the ratchet wheel forwardly one step, the shaft 169 partaking of a like rotation. Through the medium of the inter-meshing gears 17'7- and 178, 180 and 181, auch rotation of the shaft 169 is communicated in a stepbystep manner to the traction wheels, whereby the machine is advanced' intermittently.

Referring new to the mechanism for driving the ma chine from place to place under its own power, with the excavating wheel out of action, the parte which coperate to this end with the driving mechanism already described, are made asfollows: Mounted on said second shaft 169 is e sprocket when 1re nl@ hub f which 'is loose on said shalt permitting the shaft to rotate therein. The said sprocket wheel 170 is operatively connected, through the medium of a driving belt or chain 171, with a small sprocket' wheel 172 on the main shaft 142, where- .hy the shaft 169 is rotated from said main shaft 142.

Said shaft 169 may also be driven from the shaft 142 by a likcsprocket chain or belt trained about pulleys 173 and 174 on said main shaft and the hub of the sprocket wheel 170, respectively. Said sprocket wheels 173 und 174, respectively, and the speed of the machine when tra'veling from place to place may be varied by changing the driving belt or chain 171 [rom one set to the other. The hub is adapted to be locked lo the shaft 169 by moans of a clutch, the members of which are formed partially on said hub and partially on a collar 17.5 which is nonretatve on but slides longitudinally of said shaft. Said clutch collar is operated by means of a lever 176.

When the machine is to he moved from place to place, the main shalt 142 is disconnected from the shaft 108 by removing ,the chain or belt 166 and driving power is communicated lrom the shaft. 142 through the belt 171 to the gear wheel 170 er 174, as the case may be. At this time said gear wheels 170 and 174 are locked to the before referred to. Iower is transmitted from the shaft thus connected with the engine through the gear wheel 177, 4the differential geur and the pinion 180 to the gear wheels 181 of the traction wheels in the same manner Aas when driving power is transmitted intermittently te the traction wheels, with the exception that the power is transmitted continuously instead of a. step-hyatep manner. When the machine is to be moved some dis- 4tance from one place of operation to another, the driving general level oi the roadway. This is etlected through the medium of the pivotal wheel bearing frame comprising the arms 40 and the rigidly connected beams 41,'

before referred to, together with the iollowng mechanism new to be described cooperating therewith 200 designates a. drum mounted on a horinontal shaft 201 extending transversely across the main frame in iront of and parallel with the main driving shaft 142. 202 designates a cable, one end of which is fixed to said drum and the other end of which is rixed to the frame 26 adjacent to the drum. In the bight of said cable and near the level of the upper ends of the beams 41, is located a pulley 208 (Fig. 1). 204 designates a. chain or cable that is attached at one end to said pulley, is trained between its ends over a guide pulley 205 (Figs. 1 and 4) suspended from the upper ends of the bones41, and is connected at its other end with the upper end o an inverted V-shaped frame 206, the lower diver-ging ends o thc members of which frame nre pivotaly conuecred at 207 (Fig. 4) with the auxiliary, vertically slid- .ing frame 42. The connection of said cha-in with said inverted vehaped frame is so close to the pulley 205 that when one end of the cable is wound on the drum it acts to pull the vertical portion of the wheel supporting frame forwardly or towards the drum and, by reamn'of the pivotal connection of said frame with the main trarne the rearwardly directed wheel bearing arms 40 of said frame may be raised. In this manner the wheel may he raised above the level of the ground or may be vertically adjusted to exc-avuti.' ditches oi difierent depths as desired. A convenient means of rotating said drum to efl'ect tho operation of raising and lowering the Wheel consists in providing the drum shaft 201 with a worm wheel 210 which is engaged by a worm 211 on or carried by an oblique shaft 212 that is mounted in a suitable bearing 213 on the main frame of the machine. S'aid shaft is provided with a hand wheel 214 by which it may be turned to rotate the said drum. Provisions are also made for raising said excavating wheel above the level of the ground by the power of the engine. The mechanism for this purpose comprises a beveled gear wh col 215 on the end of the main driving shnft 142 (Figs. 1 and 2) and a conical pinion 216 carried by the end o said worm screw-shaft 212. The said wheel is movable endwise on the shaft 142 and is adapted to be moved inwardly into engagement with said conical gear by means of a levcr 217 that is pivoted to the main or cerrying fron-1o and engages at its ond the outer face of seid bevel wheel 215. When said gears are brought into mesh in this manner it will be obvious that the rotation oi the main driving shaft 142 communicates rotative movement to the screw shaft with the result of winding the cable 202 on the drum and raising the wheel as described.

Referring now to the sliding connection of the auxilinry frame 42 with respect to the upright members 43 oi the wheel supporting immo and its cooperation with the cable 202, it will be noted that the purpose of said sliding auxiliary frame rind the ports which coperate therewith, is to enable the scoops cnrred by the wheel to loosen and raise obstructions, such as stones, against which the scoops are forced and also to permit the excavating wheel to be automatically raised upon such occasion if the obstruction be too large or heavy to be thus loosened. The operation of this feature of tho construction will be made clear from o. consideration of the following: In coso one of the plows or scoops strikes such obstruction on extraordinary stress is brought on the lever lop oi the driving chain 52 which tends to draw the upper end of the auxiliary frame and the vertical members 4l of the wheel supporting tmme towards the excavating wheel. Suchtcndency is re- Sisbed, however, by rncmns of the inextcllsibility of the cable 202 and chain 204. The result of such extraordinar-y stress on the lower lop of said driving chain 52 is to eect n downward shifting of the auxiliary frame in its bearings. Snell downward shifting of the auxiliary frame in this manner is resisted by the immovability of the pulley 203. The pulley 205, over which the chain 204 is tmined, is located in front ofthe pivot oi the wheel supporting frame and the tension brought on seid chain 204 serves to swing the upright members il of said wheel supporting frame forwardly about its pivot, with the result of tending to swing the rem'- wardly directed arms 40 and the excavating wheel tipwnrd1y Such tendency to swing the wheel upwardly has the effect of exerting an upward and forward pull on the obstruction, as a stone, which will dislodge such obstruction so that it may be removed lfrom the cxcvation by the scoops if in fact such obstruction be of such size as to admit oi itsdslodgment and removal. If the obstruction cannot he thus dislodged and removed the upward swinging of thc rear end of the wheel carrying frame djsengngcs the scoop or plow from the obstruction thus avoiding an undue stress boing thrown on thel locking devices tor locking the scoops inwardly against the wheel to hold them from backward movement relatively to thedlrcctlon of rotation oi.' the wheel, und means for A releasing the locking q e ccs, eachvcomprlslng n chain attnched nt one end of the locking device and nt its other end to n. statlonm'y part o t the wheel, nnd n chulo nttnched nt one end to-on infer-mediate' puri: of the first chulu nud nt its. other end mathe nvm ot the scoop ln udvnnce ot the scoop with which sald'docking device ls nssoelated. i,

2. An cxcnvntlng machine embracing azrotutlve wheel, scoop bearing arms hinged to the wheel und having lateral movement relatively thereto, scoops carried by said arms, und locking devices for locking the scoops inwardly against the wheel, each comprising a loop on the scoop arm, a radinlly swinging latch plvoted to the wheel rlm and provided with n hooked end adapted to engage said Ioop,. rind means for automatically engaging sold hooked end of the latch with the said loop when the scoop arm ls swung inwardly.

8. An excavating machine embracing n. rotdtlve wheel, scoop bearing arms hinged to the wheel und having lateral movement relatively thereto, scoops ca rrled by sold arms, and locking devices for locking the scoops inwordly against the wheel, sold locking devices each embracing n loop on the scoop nrm, n radially swinging hitch pvnted to the wheel r-lrn und provided with u hook adopted to engage sold loop, and a devlce for normally holding the hooked end of' the latch out ot thc path of the loop constructed to be moved inwardly towards the wheel rim when said arm is swung inwardly to permit the hooked end of the latch to swing into engagement with suid loop.

4. An excavating machine embracing s. rotative wheel, scoop bearing arms hinged to the wheel and having lateral movement relntively-fhereto, scoops carried by snid nrrns, and locking,r devices tor locking the' scoops inwardly against the wheel, said locking devices each embracing a loop on the scoop arm, n radially swinging latch plvoted to thc wheel rim and provided with d hook adopted to engage said loop, a. lever nlvoted to said rim to -swing; in n plane transverse to the plane of movement ot thelatch and provided with an arm which normally holds the hook of said hitch out ot the path of sold loop, said loop engaging the arm to shift the same inwardly out of the path of the hooked end of the latch to permit, the said hooked end or the ln'tch to swing into engagement with said loop.

' v5. An sxeavotingmachine embracing` orotatlve wheel. scoop hearing arms hinged to the wheel and having lateral movement relatively thereto, scoops carried by said arms, and locking devices for locking the scoops inwardly against the wheel, each comprislng a loop on the scoop nrm,`n radlnlly swinging latch pivoted to the wheel rim and pro. vided with n hooked end adopted to engnge said loop, means automatically engaging sold hookedV end of the latch with the loop when the drm is swung inwardly, and

means operated by the movement of each scoop arm to rel lense the latch belonging to another scoop arm.

(l. An excavating machine comprising a. rotative wheel and o chain for driving the wheel, scoops 4es r'red by the' wheel, plow hearing arms, one or more of which are hlnged to the wheel to swing laterally toward and from the pinne or the wheel and plows carried hy said arms. 4

7. An excavating machine comprising a rotative wheel, a chain for driving said wheel, scoops carried by the wheel. plow bearing arms, one or more of whlch is hinged to the wheel to swing laterally toward and trom the plane ot-the wheel, plow: carried by the said arms, and means for normally holding the hinged plow bearing :rms in thelr retracted position tovrnrd tbe rim ofthe wheel.

B. An excnvntlng machine comprising a rotative wheeh, a driving chain for rotating said wheel, scoops carried by the wheel and movable laterally toward and from the plane'ofthewheel, plow bearing arms, one or more of which are plvoted to the wheel to swing toward and trom the plane ot the wheel, plows carried by said arms, and means operated iiy the outward movement-oi' a scoop for swinging n plow bearing arm Intexally away from the plane ot the wheel to clear the plow thereof trom said driving chain.

0. An excavating machine embracing n rotative wheel,

n chain :or driving the mme, scoops carried by the wheel,`

u n'hevi unrrylni; h'nmc pivntcd thm-vin. nn excavating i (rnmc with mild mixilimy fi'nnne. for the purpnsvu act 1( wheel nwuntml un the laitier frnuw, nwuns fur uivnncing mili wheel (mmc und fm' retailing :mid wheel, the lutter elnbrucim: n driving hen trained :About mici excavating wheel und n wheel rotated hy thu driving menus, an nnx iliary tl'nmc on which snld iuttvr whuci in mounted, sind (mmc having zslillim.I connection with the excavating wheel cnn-ving frame, und n :fusion cnhle lxeti to the wheeled h'umc and conmcted through the wheel carrying fnl-til.

in lostnnmy, that l claim the foregoing ns my invention l nlx my signature iu thv presence nf iwu witnesses, this 4th luy of .inne A. l). 12m?v IHCUMU) 1)AL'ON Wiincxrie Ummm l. Wlmilxri, Donrrrm' IC. Mmmm'. 

